North East Buses

(20 Sep 2025, 8:49 am)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]Are all the 5A moving to Redcar  so that probably means Stockton will lose pulsars with the 5a

Not sure how redcar would gain any pulsars. When on the other threads there are 6 spare at redcar being used to cover a repaint.
5a operating from redcar would be better. But would it interwork with another service. Say the x3 and 5a leaving the x2 to work into 64 and 64a. 
Do feel as though 62 is a service that could've been extended again bsck to marske or new marske.

(20 Sep 2025, 8:59 am)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Not sure how redcar would gain any pulsars. When on the other threads there are 6 spare at redcar being used to cover a repaint.
5a operating from redcar would be better. But would it interwork with another service. Say the x3 and 5a leaving the x2 to work into 64 and 64a. 
Do feel as though 62 is a service that could've been extended again bsck to marske or new marske.

You’d presume 2 buses will move with it - it will interwork with the 63 I understand.

(20 Sep 2025, 9:06 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]You’d presume 2 buses will move with it - it will interwork with the 63 I understand.

With Durham you probably see deckers allocated to the x12 due to Xmas shoppers  as it dose get very busy at that time of year with there mmcs been eur6 is a bonus for the Newcastle clean air zone

(20 Sep 2025, 3:26 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Changes primarily designed to help with Stockton’s staffing crisis… I would hope many of the reductions are temporary!

On top of these… operation of the 5a will move to Redcar and the X12 will be an entirely Durham production from November.

Impressed to see the additional journeys being kept on the X4 and X93 through the winter.

It is nice to see that some growth is now on the cards and the X3, X4, X12 all get some extensions.

Stockton are keeping two X12 boards.

(20 Sep 2025, 8:49 am)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]Are all the 5A moving to Redcar  so that probably means Stockton will lose pulsars with the 5a and same with the x12

5As are only moving temporally to help Stockton with short drivers

(20 Sep 2025, 3:26 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Changes primarily designed to help with Stockton’s staffing crisis… I would hope many of the reductions are temporary!

On top of these… operation of the 5a will move to Redcar and the X12 will be an entirely Durham production from November.

Impressed to see the additional journeys being kept on the X4 and X93 through the winter.

It is nice to see that some growth is now on the cards and the X3, X4, X12 all get some extensions.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only substantial reductions are the 8 and 63 going from 10 minutes to 15 minutes? 

The way people were talking about these changes made it seem like entire routes were being withdrawn! You would like to think these will re-increase in due course, at the very least up to 12 minutes if not back to 10. 

Admittedly, there is also the X22 peak journeys being curtailed back to Stockton which, although a shame, is perhaps not a great loss in the grand scheme of things - less convinced on whether these will return! Oh and the 805 too which is in essence 'a nice to have' to ease schooldays crowdings and I assume could come back if/when the others are put back to normal.

I'd have kept just a few X94 journeys running through the winter months too, as a bit of extra capacity at busy times - Whitby is rarely quiet for long.
Not only that, but they have route branded buses for the X93/X94 and one of those routes advertised is withdrawn completely for a few months, where it needn't be.

The 63 going to every 15 minutes made me think back to when it was a flagship route, running every 7 or 8 minutes.
What happened to it, has the demand actually reduced that much over the years?

(24 Sep 2025, 9:14 am)tvd wrote [ -> ]I'd have kept just a few X94 journeys running through the winter months too, as a bit of extra capacity at busy times - Whitby is rarely quiet for long.
Not only that, but they have route branded buses for the X93/X94 and one of those routes advertised is withdrawn completely for a few months, where it needn't be.

The 63 going to every 15 minutes made me think back to when it was a flagship route, running every 7 or 8 minutes.
What happened to it, has the demand actually reduced that much over the years?

The highest frequency the 63 has ever had was every 9 minutes around 2007/8. Prior to that it was every 10 and has constantly stayed every 10. Once staffing issues subside it is expected to go back to every 10 - the 63 is also one of the few routes that in 2025 is more frequent than it was in the early 90’s!

(24 Sep 2025, 7:11 pm)Teessider2014 wrote [ -> ]The highest frequency the 63 has ever had was every 9 minutes around 2007/8. Prior to that it was every 10 and has constantly stayed every 10. Once staffing issues subside it is expected to go back to every 10 - the 63 is also one of the few routes that in 2025 is more frequent than it was in the early 90’s!

I think I'm correct in it being every 7/8 minutes years ago, but if I'm wrong I stand corrected.

Some Northumberland service changes, effective November 2nd 2025:  https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...eas-nov-25

A basic summary:

434 - reduced to run every 2 hours (Northumberland County Council decision)

X14/X15/X16/X18 - journeys generally running 10 mins later than present, extra summer Saturday X18 journeys no longer running - less X14's serving Cragside (reduced winter opening hours) - Saturday X16 journeys at start/end of the day that currently run Wooler to Kelso,  will be extended to terminate in Morpeth.

777 - timetable changes

(29 Sep 2025, 10:12 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Some Northumberland service changes, effective November 2nd 2025:  https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...eas-nov-25

A basic summary:

434 - reduced to run every 2 hours (Northumberland County Council decision)

X14/X15/X16/X18 - journeys generally running 10 mins later than present, extra summer Saturday X18 journeys no longer running - less X14's serving Cragside (reduced winter opening hours) - Saturday X16 journeys at start/end of the day that currently run Wooler to Kelso,  will be extended to terminate in Morpeth.

777 - timetable changes

Looks like an extra bus in the X14/15/16/18 and they will all interwork in Newcastle.

Some minor timing changes on services 6, 22, 23, 24, 43, 48, 49/49A and X46 from November 2nd:  https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...nty-durham

---

Some additional journeys will be provided on service 7 whilst Luminaire is on in Durham between 13th-15th November:  https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...or-lumiere

That demonstrator decker seems to be getting wasted by Blyth if there aren't gonna use it why don't there send it to Ashington  im prity sure they be glad for a extra decker or even send it to Durham  as yet to bleve there getting same style  i been hearing

(22 Oct 2025, 3:10 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]That demonstrator decker seems to be getting wasted by Blyth if there aren't gonna use it why don't there send it to Ashington  im prity sure they be glad for a extra decker or even send it to Durham  as yet to bleve there getting same style  i been hearing

It's broken, as far I'm aware, rather than being unused.

(22 Oct 2025, 3:10 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]That demonstrator decker seems to be getting wasted by Blyth if there aren't gonna use it why don't there send it to Ashington  im prity sure they be glad for a extra decker or even send it to Durham  as yet to bleve there getting same style  i been hearing

I read something on Facebook about Blyth awaiting a part before it can get back on the road.

Have your say on the future of the X22!

We are looking to improve the X22 service in County Durham, and need your feedback. Whether you’re a regular passenger or just use it occasionally, your views can help shape future timetables and routes.

Take the quick survey here: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...nty-durham


Back in July 2023, changes were made to bus services X21/X22 following reductions in local authority funding. Since then, we’ve received valuable feedback from our passengers -particularly concerns about the loss of direct links to Newton Aycliffe and Darlington from Peterlee, Sedgefield, and surrounding areas.

We know how important reliable transport connections are for work, education, and everyday travel. That’s why we’re revisiting these changes -and we’d like to hear your views on the best option going forward.

We’re considering two options for Service X22;

Maintain the service as it currently is, with links to Stockton and North Tees Hospital or
Revise the service to connect to Newton Aycliffe and Darlington instead
Your voice matters, and your feedback will help shape the future of this service.

Have your say!

Please take a moment to let us know which option best suits your travel needs by completing the survey below.

Click here to share your feedback with us

The survey will run from 20 October until 30 November 2025.

Thank you for helping us improve public transport in County Durham.


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(26 Oct 2025, 10:33 am)cbma06 wrote [ -> ] Have your say on the future of the X22!

We are  looking to improve the X22 service in County Durham, and need your feedback. Whether you’re a regular passenger or just use it occasionally, your views can help shape future timetables and routes.

Take the quick survey here: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...nty-durham

We’re considering two options for Service X22;

Maintain the service as it currently is, with links to Stockton and North Tees Hospital or
Revise the service to connect to Newton Aycliffe and Darlington instead
Your voice matters, and your feedback will help shape the future of this service.

Should also add, whichever outcome occurs, it will supposedly still be half hourly between Sedgefield and Peterlee (says this when you open the survey).

Amusing they ask for views, but I did the survey and as someone who doesn't have access to the current X22 but would for the revised route, I had to tick the "currently do not use the X22" box and the survey ended there for me, I did also leave a comment on the Facebook post Arriva posted this morning linking to the survey, but seemingly deleted it, likely because someone put service 22 instead of X22 on the graphic.

(26 Oct 2025, 5:24 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Amusing they ask for views, but I did the survey and as someone who doesn't have access to the current X22 but would for the revised route, I had to tick the "currently do not use the X22" box and the survey ended there for me, I did also leave a comment on the Facebook post Arriva posted this morning linking to the survey, but seemingly deleted it, likely because someone put service 22 instead of X22 on the graphic.

In fairness, it's a good move that. It should be about the existing passengers first imo as they're the ones who will be impacted with work or whatever. 

It's a change from the ones in the past which were so dodgy worded it was always going to have one answer.

Always remember the 57/57A being one like that asking if it would be a good idea to redirect one via the new hospital and stuff Seghill in the process. Obviously Betty in Ashington who never used it would agree with that and it went through. 

GoNorthEast used to be especially bad for it aswell.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...d-32769059

no so happy about the x22

(29 Oct 2025, 12:59 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...d-32769059

no so happy about the x22

I assume there's timing issues, but I'm surprised they haven't just cut the X22 short at Sedgefield and merged it with the 23 tbh. 

The Stockton side of it is clearly struggling.

Don't see why the timings wouldn't work though, as it's not much different to Peterlee to Sunderland which it used to do.

(29 Oct 2025, 12:59 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...d-32769059

no so happy about the x22

I genuinely don't understand why they can just reinstate the X21 / X22 each hourly but combined up to Sedgefield...

Darlington could operate one board and Stockton the other. They literally have depots at each end (and nearbyish Durham which they could change the X12 or 23 in some way) so they have no excuse. 

I genuinely don't understand why they've given that choice.

Can't help but feel Arriva have created a problem of thier own making with that badly worded survey.

A cynic would say they are fishing for some money out of Tees Valley or Durham by demonstrating demand, but not enough to be commercially viable.

Maybe if they actually market thier services properly, they wouldn't be in the mess to begin with.

(29 Oct 2025, 5:16 pm)Kimlfixit wrote [ -> ]Can't help but feel Arriva have created a problem of thier own making with that badly worded survey.

A cynic would say they are fishing for some money out of Tees Valley or Durham by demonstrating demand, but not enough to be commercially viable.

Maybe if they actually market thier services properly, they wouldn't be in the mess to begin with.

To be honest, I just have a feeling there's not many people really using it. 

The X10 (GNE) and X12 do most the links direct much quicker. 

There's only really Trimdon, Wingate and Fishburn who realistically might use it and I'm not sure there's enough there to warrant it. 

Least heading to Darlington opens up new links which don't exist currently without a severe detour.

(29 Oct 2025, 6:21 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]To be honest, I just have a feeling there's not many people really using it. 

The X10 (GNE) and X12 do most the links direct much quicker. 

There's only really Trimdon, Wingate and Fishburn who realistically might use it and I'm not sure there's enough there to warrant it. 

Least heading to Darlington opens up new links which don't exist currently without a severe detour.

Views are very mixed on the proposed changes, some want the Aycliffe & Darlo link back, but understandably there's opposition to the removal of the current X22 to North Tees Hospital and Stockton, more for North Tees as is often the way when hospital links are removed.

Biggest issues with the routes are the fact it's essentially dead south of Sedgefield, not helped by the gaps of anywhere to pick up/drop off passengers for about 15 minutes, current X22 not being helped by the fact it largely dupes the X12 for the remainder of the route for Stockton aside from Thorpe Thewles which risks losing its bus service as a result and North Tees which is typically not a daily link for most aside from people who work there and the X12 stops close by. At very least the X21 provides a link which is now a nightmare to undertake, especially from Newton Aycliffe.

Comments are still being made wishing for the X12 to additionally serve Fishburn which Arriva suggested about doing in a survey a few year back but was left as it was.

If it was going to be running to/from Darlington again, not sure how it would work resource wise given the extra time it takes to run to Darlo via Aycliffe vs the current X22 to Stockton which requires 4 buses, unless it somehow got worked in with the 22/23/24 cycle.

(29 Oct 2025, 6:21 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]To be honest, I just have a feeling there's not many people really using it. 

The X10 (GNE) and X12 do most the links direct much quicker. 

There's only really Trimdon, Wingate and Fishburn who realistically might use it and I'm not sure there's enough there to warrant it. 

Least heading to Darlington opens up new links which don't exist currently without a severe detour.

True enough. No disrespect to Stockton, but I would think Darlington would be a bigger draw. One assumes at the time they withdrew the X21 they thought about either Darlington or Stockton and plumbed for Stockton and now Stockton is a building site and Darlo is upwardly mobile

(29 Oct 2025, 8:58 pm)Kimlfixit wrote [ -> ]True enough. No disrespect to Stockton, but I would think Darlington would be a bigger draw. One assumes at the time they withdrew the X21 they thought about either Darlington or Stockton and plumbed for Stockton and now Stockton is a building site and Darlo is upwardly mobile

Yeah, to be honest, the Trimdons are probably partially moaning because Arriva are attacking them again. Seems every time they're doing service changes they're getting something cut from the area; with Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Durham, Newton Aycliffe, Darlington, Hartlepool and now Stockton all lost over the past 10 year or so. 

Obviously some links are kept with the 59 being ran by the council though and they're regaining the Aycliffe / Darlington links, potentially but I'd be pretty annoyed aswell to be honest.

(57A (https://api.arrivabus.co.uk/routes/servi...r-2021.pdf) and the X21 heading to Sunderland being those routes for reference)

The X22 when I used to drive it (10 years ago now…) used to carry decent numbers and especially on market day would be full & standing. I’m told it’s effectively dead now though. As Jimmi says they need to be able to do it with 4 buses though and the extra mileage to Darlington won’t allow this I don’t think.

(29 Oct 2025, 8:12 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Views are very mixed on the proposed changes, some want the Aycliffe & Darlo link back, but understandably there's opposition to the removal of the current X22 to North Tees Hospital and Stockton, more for North Tees as is often the way when hospital links are removed.

Biggest issues with the routes are the fact it's essentially dead south of Sedgefield, not helped by the gaps of anywhere to pick up/drop off passengers for about 15 minutes, current X22 not being helped by the fact it largely dupes the X12 for the remainder of the route for Stockton aside from Thorpe Thewles which risks losing its bus service as a result and North Tees which is typically not a daily link for most aside from people who work there and the X12 stops close by. At very least the X21 provides a link which is now a nightmare to undertake, especially from Newton Aycliffe.

Comments are still being made wishing for the X12 to additionally serve Fishburn which Arriva suggested about doing in a survey a few year back but was left as it was.

If it was going to be running to/from Darlington again, not sure how it would work resource wise given the extra time it takes to run to Darlo via Aycliffe vs the current X22 to Stockton which requires 4 buses, unless it somehow got worked in with the 22/23/24 cycle.

Sorry I missed this, yeah I could imagine that would be the case to be honest but I guess it depends how many people are really using it or if it's people moaning for the sake of moaning. 

Wonder if there might be additional changes coming to Darlington as part of this, mainly involving the 8/17 as it could easily work with one of them, if say the 8 was changed in some way.

Not sure sending the X12 through Fishburn would be good though as it'd extend it badly.

imo if Durham wanted to make changes, the best thing would be to split the 59 in half, the extreme double back via Trimdon pretty much makes it two bus routes anyway, with one side of it being extended South to Stockton and the other just terminating short somewhere. They might actually have some passengers then as they're rather quiet right now whenever I've seen them.

(01 Nov 2025, 9:08 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Sorry I missed this, yeah I could imagine that would be the case to be honest but I guess it depends how many people are really using it or if it's people moaning for the sake of moaning. 

Wonder if there might be additional changes coming to Darlington as part of this, mainly involving the 8/17 as it could easily work with one of them, if say the 8 was changed in some way.

Not sure sending the X12 through Fishburn would be good though as it'd extend it badly.

imo if Durham wanted to make changes, the best thing would be to split the 59 in half, the extreme double back via Trimdon pretty much makes it two bus routes anyway, with one side of it being extended South to Stockton and the other just terminating short somewhere. They might actually have some passengers then as they're rather quiet right now whenever I've seen them.

The 8/8A currently interworks with the 17, although I suspect that's now more so only one double decker has to be allocated to one board to do the school service 865 at both ends of the school day, can't imagine Arriva have anything major planned for the 8/8A at least, as likely would have to be a survey for that too - being in Tees Valley, don't think surveys would need to be made for the likes of the 16/17/18 although lord knows what's planned for all the Tees Valley contract services when the contracts are currently expected to end in the spring.

I would imagine that the X12 would require an extra 5 minutes if it were to serve Fishburn en route to Sedgefield.

Pretty much all the routes in that part of County Durham have been cut to within an inch of their lives that many are now of little use to many people, area needs a whole overhaul but given the levels services have been reduced to, I can only see further cuts and changes like what's currently being consulted on with the X22.

(01 Nov 2025, 10:26 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]The 8/8A currently interworks with the 17, although I suspect that's now more so only one double decker has to be allocated to one board to do the school service 865 at both ends of the school day, can't imagine Arriva have anything major planned for the 8/8A at least, as likely would have to be a survey for that too - being in Tees Valley, don't think surveys would need to be made for the likes of the 16/17/18 although lord knows what's planned for all the Tees Valley contract services when the contracts are currently expected to end in the spring.

I would imagine that the X12 would require an extra 5 minutes if it were to serve Fishburn en route to Sedgefield.

Pretty much all the routes in that part of County Durham have been cut to within an inch of their lives that many are now of little use to many people, area needs a whole overhaul but given the levels services have been reduced to, I can only see further cuts and changes like what's currently being consulted on with the X22.

Aye definitely, guess it depends if it was an extension though I suppose - don't think they need to do a survey for positive changes.

The 113 is the one which is standing out though, unsure when the tender is up though.

8 -> 8A/113 -> X21 -> X21 -> 17 (and vice versa) would pretty much work on paper and I know Arriva were looking at expanding their services so who knows? Agreed with the cuts in that part though.